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Massive ski, snowboard mountain planned for Florida resort

Developers on Wednesday announced plans for a $309 million resort near Kissimmee that would include 14-story ski and snowboard mountain, an indoor/outdoor skateboard park and a snowball fight arena. Xero Gravity Action Sports said it plans to build the Action Sports & Entertainment Resort near the intersection of U.S. Highway 192 and State Road 535 in Osceola County, about 4 miles east of Celebration. The project would create 1,000 jobs, according to Xero Gravity Action Sports. “Our company is creating the next step in the tourism sports industry. We are developing a one-of-a-kind sports and entertainment resort that provides unique hands-on experiences,” said Larry Walshaw, CEO and founder of Xero Gravity Action Sports. “We will be hosting televised pro and amateur competitions, think X Games, with sports shows and clinics, and we will have daily competitions at all venues for visitors who like to compete”.

The company said the resort will also include nine snow-tubing lanes, a surfing and boogie boarding area, a USA BMX-sanctioned race track, two skydiving pods, an indoor dodgeball trampoline arena, a rapid river, rock climbing, a zip line, two waterslides, a rope challenge and more. Other amenities include a 250-room Hyatt-branded hotel with a rooftop pool and bar, a 2,000 seat amphitheater, swim-up bar and grotto, swimming pools, cabanas, day spa, retail facilities, sports training facility, multiple restaurants and sports bars, and the International Action Sports Hall of Fame. “We picked Osceola County due to its location, friendly development environment, and, most importantly, because The Xero Gravity Action Sports & Entertainment Resort will have the most significant economic impact on the local business community of any community we reviewed,” Walshaw said.

The Xero Gravity Actions Sports & Entertainment Resort is expected to open in early 2018.